by Meredith Schneider | Jan 12, 2021 | singles, wolf tracks
When working to fully connect with our human reality, music, like always, may be the best way to express our thoughts regarding the matter. That’s why RⱯHM ⚉’s new track “semiautomatical” was made. It highlights the complicated nature of our society by showing us the more mundane moments while also giving us a peek inside the soothing, wind-in-our -hair moments. Not to worry, the track itself is anything but mundane, keeping your ears perked for the entirety of the nearly four-minute track. With this, he pushes himself even further past any boundaries, cementing him as the adventurous face in music. As we listeners step into this portal to a new view of our planet and humanity as a whole, we face reinvention and peace, and glorious music, of course.
He says of the meaning behind the track:
“semiautomatical” is a non-word that I was using to refer to this kind of halfness. Closeness and farness simultaneously. Watching other people have sex on the internet. love in the anthropocene. blah blah you get it. but it’s more ambiguous than “wow this is fucked the bots are taking over my brainstem.”
by Sadie Battle | Jan 7, 2021 | singles, wolf tracks
The Dawn Drapes are Michael Sanzo and Daniel Rice. This musical duo formed in Harrisonburg, VA in 2010, and has been cultivating their sound with notable influences of shoegaze and psych-wave over the years. Their newest release is an indie masterpiece complete with beautiful melodies and splendid strings. “You Are The One” is the latest single to further the anticipation for their full-length album expected sometime this year. This single was recorded at Headroom Studios in Philadelphia with producer Shane Woods and musicians Noah Skaroff and Keaton Thandi.
At first listen, you’ll probably start to unravel all the layers of this song, and perhaps want to listen on repeat to take it all in again and again. Whether it’s the songwriting, fresh melodies, smooth synths, or tappy high-hat percussion, this song will only do wonders for your indie ears. The vibe of this duo is something so familiar, yet so foreign at the same time – it’s apparent they didn’t follow a recipe to make this song, but instead tapped into their most creative selves and made some magic. If you’re looking to build some new playlists for this year, then be sure to add this song, and give Dawn Drapes a follow on Spotify.
by Tiffany Czech | Jan 6, 2021 | singles, wolf tracks
Being faced with the daunting task of starting over in a new place and experiencing loneliness in the process can be an overwhelming and exhausting preposition, one that makes you feel like isolated and alone. Kuwaisiana’s newest release “Cymbal of this City” takes us on this journey, one that includes all of the sounds of a new, busy place and all the thoughts that we sit with while in solitude. The explosive, head turning tune features the groove of a heated electric guitar and invaluable horns as an introduction, creating the feeling of the opening of the new superhero movie set in New York City. The lyrics work with the instrumental to create a picture of a city filled with music, where,around every corner, there is a new sound to get you through your woes. The band manages to pose some of life’s most pressing questions while creating an extravagant, catchy breath of fresh air.
Lead singer +Aziz says of the song:
A song about finding purpose and establishing your voice in the face of loneliness. This song was born out of a desire to overcome alienation. Something I experienced a lot after moving to the US, particularly in urban life. Once I introduced the song to the band, we were able to elevate it with a driving force and a catchy hook! Probably the only true ‘hook’ on the EP actually.
by Tiffany Czech | Jan 5, 2021 | videos, wolf tracks
The video for Ane Brun’s track “Crumbs”, from one of her two newly released albums “After The Great Storm” (the other is How Beauty Holds the Hand of Sorrow), is a brilliant showcase of emotions. Each scene is a carefully woven story of pain and love and the lessons that come along with both. While some scenes show us the seemingly picture-perfect life of a happy family enjoying the company of one another, the heartbreaking truths are revealed beyond the smiles and the laughs. Various cuts to the picture of unhappiness and yearning create a sobering reminder that there is more than meets the eye. The very last shot offers a glimpse of hope that we can still find our way to feeling content and filled with joy somewhere down the line.
Brun says of the new albums:
Even though I wrote most of them before this whole pandemic started, I feel they all have a message that fits the situation we’re in: frustration over the state of the world, how to grieve for a loved one, existentialism, love, relationships, loneliness, inner struggles, sleepless nights…I guess they’re just about being human.
by Tiffany Czech | Jan 5, 2021 | premieres, videos
When Dwight Twilley wrote and released “I’m on Fire” back in 1975, he probably wasn’t expecting it to be covered decades later, complete with a fresh video. Well, maybe he was! Who’s to say? Either way, the cover, featuring vocals from Sarah Frick for Back to Paradise: A Tulsa Tribute to Okie Music, is stunning, and the video is a perfect visual that beautifully highlights the rock n’ roll essence of the track.
The video itself is a bit like a montage, with some shots showing Frick trying on different outfits before cutting to a scene of her rocking out, drink in hand. Of course, we also get to see Frick prancing around in the quiet nightlife, still being the rock star she knows she is. Not only do we get to see the fun nature of the track played out visually, we also get to watch an empowered badass female take on the night in true “empowered woman” fashion. I can’t think of a better way to pay tribute to Twilley and the music of Oklahoma.
The album is available now.
by Tiffany Czech | Jan 4, 2021 | singles, wolf tracks
In his new song “Redemption”, Nathaniel Rateliff sings of wanting to escape the ghosts of his past that continue to haunt him. You would be forgiven for thinking that he was actually writing the song about his own life instead of an upcoming movie. The track, which was written for the Apple Original Film, Palmer, takes the listener on an emotional journey, one that is the perfect look into the trials and tribulations of the film’s main character. The movie is a story about trying to live a normal and trouble-free life amidst feeling like everyone around you is working to tear you down, and Rateliff’s yearnful track highlights this perfectly. After watching the recently released trailer, it is clear to see that Rateliff managed to successfully put himself into the shoes of the main character in order to create a compelling addition to an already gripping story.
Rateliff says of how he became motivated to write the track:
When I was first asked to write a song for Palmer I was told what the film was about and where the song was going to be used. The melody and the opening line came to me immediately. But it wasn’t until I had a conversation with Justin [Timberlake] that helped me to put the song together. He said the film was about redemption. I saw that in the characters and did my best to add to the scene in the film.
by Tiffany Czech | Jan 4, 2021 | singles, wolf tracks
When it comes time to give the 60s music scene a run for its money, you can look no further than the band straight out of Philadelphia known as Them Jones. Their newest track, “Here Comes the Dark”, off of their recently released album, The Dark, is sprinkled with all the bells and whistles one could need for a spiced-up track. It might be one of the most sonically intriguing songs I have heard recently, with something new to look forward to while turning every corner.
But beyond the sound itself, the lyrics capture a seemingly rare glimpse into the mind of the writer. The story being told here is the struggle between feeling on top of the world, but with the threat of the dark always looming. The specificity we encounter with this track feels too good to be true. While being so specific may often lead people to not connect, Them Jones are here to provide the opposite effect. In the end, they are successful at putting a mirror to the person listening, asking them to also dive deep into their inner self, just as they have done themselves.
by Tiffany Czech | Dec 30, 2020 | albums, review
Alternative rock outfit out of Phoenix, OO, are expanding their loud, energy-driven sound with their newly released EP Nice and Good. The 5-track rocker is the perfect collection of mostly loud and fast tunes sewn together in perfect harmony. The opener, “runnin’”, is a classic up-tempo show starter that relies on heavy drums and mind-blowing guitar licks to get stuck in our heads. This is similar to the warmth of “sizzlin’ sun”, an appropriate track title for an Arizona-based group. The mid-tempo stride of “family fool” is a late-night campfire tune with a sound bordering on country, perfect for a mid-summer camping trip deep into the woods. There is an angst to “eating wurds” that feels nostalgic, while the EP’s closer, “fizzle and fry”, creates the perfect fade away and look onwards to what may be coming next.
OO promise a solid rock experience, filled with flavor and effervescent instrumentals. A taste of their music is a taste of the rock music scene at present, and we love every last bite.
by Tiffany Czech | Dec 29, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Coming out of Oklahoma and deciding to work as a solo artist post-rock band world, This Coast Bias is giving fans a sweet taste of what he’s been working on lately with his newest smooth pop track “Poison Candy”. With a plethora of musical influences to look to when creating a track, it’s no wonder that he is gifting us with such dynamic, multi-layered creations. This latest addition to his discography cleverly uses sugary metaphors and pop synths to craft an understanding of how something can feel so great while potentially causing our lives to slowly crumble. Of course, he makes the case for why we choose to keep these things around, it simply makes us feel good. It is important to point out that This Coast Bias seems to have found a sound that makes us feel good without creating turmoil, so maybe we should stick with that.
He says of how he got a taste for the track:
“Poison Candy” is about habits. Whatever it is, we all have things that taste sweet but cause ‘cavities’ in our lives. Whether it’s a girl or boy, our spending, or iced coffee, we can cause problems by sticking with something we probably shouldn’t. In this case, it’s about a girl I was dating.